Jordyn Merritt's season high boosts Texas Tech women's basketball vs. Houston: 3 takeaways
Jordyn Merritt scored a season-high 24 points as the Texas Tech women's basketball team downed Houston 66-48 Wednesday at United Supermarkets Arena. The result completed a season sweep for the Lady Raiders, who opened Big 12 play with a 79-71 win Dec. 30 in Houston.
Merritt's scoring outburst complemented a smothering defensive effort. Tech (15-6, 4-4 conference) forced 20 turnovers and held the Cougars to 30.2% shooting.
This marks the farthest into conference play the Lady Raiders have been .500 or better in at least 10 seasons.
Tech will try for its first consecutive Big 12 wins this season Saturday when TCU travels to Lubbock. The Horned Frogs (15-4, 2-5) beat UCF 66-60 on Tuesday, their first game since forfeiting consecutive contests for lack of available players.
Bailey Maupin shoulders point guard duties
Houston certainly saw a different Bailey Maupin this time around.
Maupin tallied 19 points in the first meeting, but she was tasked more with orchestrating the offense Wednesday. As Tech's primary point guard, Maupin had four assists and five turnovers while putting scoring on the backburner.
The Gruver native missed her first six shots and didn't score until the fourth quarter. She finished with two points, her lowest of the season. Maupin, who entered averaging a team-high 15.1 points, failed to reach double-figure scoring for the second time. She had seven points in a win over Houston Christian.
Loghan Johnson shows up against hometown team
Johnson came off the bench and tied her career-high in the first half. The Houston Christian High School product scored 11 points to help Tech to a 33-26 lead at the break. Johnson aggressively attacked the basket and added a 3-pointer, shooting 4 of 5 overall.
She tied Merritt for the team lead in first-half scoring. Merritt was also efficient, shooting 5 of 7 to help the Lady Raiders to a 54.2% mark through 20 minutes.
Johnson finished with 15 points. Coming off a 20-minute performance at BYU, she logged a career-high 27 minutes.
Texas Tech starts with third new lineup
For the third time in four games, the Lady Raiders started with a different lineup.
Kilah Freelon came off the bench for the first time this season, leaving Maupin as the only Tech player to start all 21 games. Merritt is the only other Lady Raider to start the past four.
Jada Wynn, part of the original shakeup that started prior to the Iowa State game, made her third consecutive start. Familiar faces filled the other two positions.
After a two-game absence, Jasmine Shavers returned to the starting five. She led the team with 16 points at BYU. Ashley Chevalier also got her spot back after starting 17 of the first 18 games.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Jordyn Merritt has season high, Texas Tech women's basketball tops Houston
